Improved dynamic positioning for large vessels to increase safety and effectivity in offshore operations and exploration and exploitation of marine resources (DP-JIP)

Project details

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CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Objective

Objectives and problems to be solved:DP-JIP is a MARIN initiative for a Joint Industry Project on Dynamic Positioning. The proposal is to combine full-scale monitoring with model test correlation, and use that as a basis for validating improved DP control methods.The objectives are:- Development of a Real-Time Environmental Force Estimator (RTEFE), to improve DP control by feeding forward all forces acting on the vessel. Upon application, the following results are expected:- Reduction of fuel consumption on DP vessels of at least 20 %- Significantly increased positioning accuracy and less downtime- More reliable positioning in harsh weather and increased limit sea state.- Improved on-board decision support to the DP operator In the end, the benefits of the technology will lead to more cost effective designs.The project results will find useful applications in vessels for deep water drilling, floating production, offshore offloading of oil and/or gas (LNG), dredging, cable laying and pipe laying. The RTEFE will be applicable in new and existing DP systems, and may be used in decision support to the DP operator.Description of work:The main aspects of the work will include - full-scale monitoring on a DP shuttle tanker in full DP and Offloading DP Mode, with measurement of thrusters actions, DP control settings, position, motions, waves, current, etc.Optionally, DP logging will also be made on a new generation drilling vessel.- development of an improved control system, using a real-time estimator of the environmental forces acting on the vessel.- model tests in MARIN Offshore Basin, in which a selected number of actually measured full scale conditions will be reproduced. This will correlate the model test to the full scale and provide a sound basis for validation of the RTEFE. Studies will also be carried out to describe the way in which the RTEFE technology affects the design of a DP vessel, and to compare CAPEX and OPEX for a conventionally moored FPSO, and a DP FPSO with and without RTEFE. Expected results and exploitation plan:The expected technical achievements are:- A validated method to estimate the environmental forces acting on a vessel with an accuracy of at least 80 % on peaks and 90 % on average;- A validated fuel saving of at least 20 % due to better thruster utilization;- A validated method to estimate the prevailing sea condition in terms of 'significant wave height' of wind driven seas and swell to an accuracy of 90% and within 15 degrees respectively. The deliverables will include: reports of the full scale monitoring campaign, of the correlation and validation model tests, and a detailed specification of the RTEFE Technology with a report describing how the RTEFE technology can be incorporated in the design of DP vessels and what the cost consequences are. Licences will be made available giving royalty-free use of the results.